Jeff Fisher: Rams are “closing the gap” in NFC West

Posted by Josh Alper on December 26, 2013, 10:43 AM EST

AP

If the Rams beat the Seahawks on Sunday, they won’t make the playoffs.

They would finish at 8-8, though, and that would mean that no team in the NFC West would end the year with a losing record. It’s happened six other times since the current divisional alignment went in place in 2002 and illustrates how deep the division is this year. That’s contributed to a 1-4 record in the NFC West for the Rams, which coach Jeff Fisher says speaks to the difficulty of the division even as he sees improvement from his team.

“It does, but again, I feel like we’re closing the gap,” Fisher said, via the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “We’re closing the gap and I hope we’ll be able to catch the other teams. I think one of the things that you probably would discover is how teams struggle after they’ve played teams in our division the next week because they’re such physical ballgames.”

The Rams will have two first-round picks to use in an attempt to close the gap even more this offseason, one of which is currently set to be the second overall pick thanks to the Redskins’ dismal season. Should they make the right additions, the NFC West could be even more difficult next season but the Rams should also be better equipped to deal with it.

Rams are most def on the rise. Next year will most likely be their breakthrough year. Winning their season finale will do wonders for that squad like when my Raiders knocked of the Chiefs in KC in the 1999 Season finale. Carried that momentum into our 2000 Championship run.

Fisher has done an impressive job in St Louis…Very Impressive. I think Kubiak would be a good OC there. He could give Fisher would he’s missing with the loss of the late great offensive mind Heimerdinger. Pretty much the same system.

they are closing in on that 2nd or 3rd best team, going to be a battle next year in that division, it’s pretty clear who are the two best teams are, the niner’s and the cardinals, rams will be fighting with the seahawks for that 3rd spot and maybe with a good draft they could make some noise.

The Rams impressed me this year by not being that team that just rolls over because we lose our main guy for the year. I hope they draft a great QB at Washington’s expense and win the NFC West without Bradford. Just me though.

The Rams can use at least one of those first round picks on a QB and cut disappointing, hideously overpaid Sam Bradford loose. Save all that money they signed him for and use it on 10 other decent players, they’ll be back at the top in a year or two.

We all know things go in cycles. This division wasn’t good only a few short years ago.

Usually it’s teams that go in cycles vs. whole divisions but changes are coming again in a few yrs.

It isn’t because they are the Seahawks and Niners but it’s due to their current QB’s and their contracts.

Both R. Wilson and Kaepernick are playing under VERY team friendly contracts due to when they were signed (not in first round). Wilson’s play, so far, means he’ll be due a huge raise beginning in two more seasons and that WILL cause changes to their team as all the new monies going to him will not be going to others like it is now.

Again, this isn’t because its the Seahawks per se.

The Rams HAVE been paying big bucks for their QB (I’m not here to comment whether he’s been worth it as that is a whole other conversation).

My point is that the Rams, unlike the Seahawks, have much less cap space for the rest of their roster.

I’m not saying that the Seahawks and Niners will crash and burn either in a few yrs but the dynamics of their teams will change when their QB’s begin to receive much more of the teams cap space than they have now.

Things like this, plus age and injuries, also play into changes in teams and divisions.

as a hawks fan I never think the rams games or the cards games are ever going to be easy wins. both teams always come with their best games (except maybe one game last year).st louis is a great team with a bright future, and I hope we can beat them. GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!

We are getting close to be contenders and trust me as a RAMS fan we need it. When an organization is being ran by idiots for a decade (devany, spags, etc) your not going to win. I think they’ll trade the skins pick and draft a qb in a later round. Im close to giving up on Bradford but when I look at how he was coached his first 3 years I’m willing to give him one more year as long as they have a backup plan. I’m guessing they’ll grab someone like Aaron Murray who personally I like. My problem w Bradford is he has 0 mobility and no expression on his face. I’d like to see someone with excitement running the offense. Can’t wait for 2014

Great for the NFC West and NFC overall………Agree with him that the gap between all four teams is close and one that makes for a fun season. However, hoping that the Hawks get by them all this weekend………Go Hawks!

We all know things go in cycles. This division wasn’t good only a few short years ago.

Usually it’s teams that go in cycles vs. whole divisions but changes are coming again in a few yrs.

It isn’t because they are the Seahawks and Niners but it’s due to their current QB’s and their contracts.

Both R. Wilson and Kaepernick are playing under VERY team friendly contracts due to when they were signed (not in first round). Wilson’s play, so far, means he’ll be due a huge raise beginning in two more seasons and that WILL cause changes to their team as all the new monies going to him will not be going to others like it is now.

Again, this isn’t because its the Seahawks per se.

The Rams HAVE been paying big bucks for their QB (I’m not here to comment whether he’s been worth it as that is a whole other conversation).

My point is that the Rams, unlike the Seahawks, have much less cap space for the rest of their roster.

I’m not saying that the Seahawks and Niners will crash and burn either in a few yrs but the dynamics of their teams will change when their QB’s begin to receive much more of the teams cap space than they have now.

Things like this, plus age and injuries, also play into changes in teams and divisions.

All the change keeps things interesting.*

*This person knows football and the situation with the NFC West. The one factor that can derail any team is injuries. Who knows? But, the cap and age will affect this division eventually. Somewhere, sometime, Arizona and STL must develop a QB.